Decorations Are Not Toys....Or Are They?

A recurring conversation with mom:

Mommy, Chasey want the big brown pider (spider).

Oh, Chasey, that spider's not for playing with, it's a Halloween decoration.  

But, I want to pay (play) wif it.  

I understand, Chase, but we don't play with decorations; decorations are for looking at not, not for playing with.  

Ohhrrgg,  but whhhhyyyyy?  

Because if you play with with it, it might break and then we don't have a Halloween spider to decorate with anymore.  

But I wealllly want to pay wif it!  

I know, Chase, but it's not for playing with, it's for looking at- it's just a decoration. 
But whhhyyyy?

I just told you, it's a decoration, not a toy.  

But Chasey want to pay wif it.  

I know, Chase, but it's not for playing with, it's just for looking at.  

But whhhyyyy? 

Remember, it's a decoration, we don't play with decorations.  

But whhhyyy?  

Because they are not made to be played with and can break, then we won't have spider decoration for Halloween.  

But Chasey weallly want to pay wif it.

I know, but....

Yes, this conversation has happened over and over and over since Halloween.  It doesn't end until I lose my patience, tell him, "because I said so" at which point he breaks down crying.  Someday he'll understand that driving mom crazy isn't good for either of us.

Which is why there's dad.  Here's how the conversation goes with dad:

Dad, Chasey weallly want to pay wif the big Halloween pider.  

Okay.

Problem solved.  So, we now have a giant spider placed strategically around our house, depending on Chase's activity.  And don't even think about accidentally stepping on it or knocking it over or you will hear Chase shrill followed by an all-out meltdown about the spider being moved.  I guess it could be worse (right?). 

Mommy's Helpers. Or Not.

I can finally say that having twins is getting a little easier. Sometimes. With their increasing age of 2 1/2 comes more opportunities for independence and autonomy. We get to teach our toddlers how to put clothes on...put their dishes in the sink...clean up their toys...brush their teeth...get up into their booster seats...and so on and so forth. There is no doubt that while this takes an initial investment of patience, I am paid back with valuable time and freedom to not have to meet every moment's need. So we want this; we encourage this; we need this.

And then I am quickly reminded that the twins' interest in learning isn't just to know how to be "mommy's helper". They are curious about a lot more than that. And while I've made no effort whatsoever to teach them these things, here are some of the other (they might argue valuable) skills they have managed to teach themselves:

*how to work the water dispenser on the refrigerator (let's just say I don't need to mop quite as often and there is always a towel handy)
*how to turn the outside hose ON (and somehow not understanding how to turn it off?)
*how to assemble- and more importantly- DISassmble sippy cups
*how to unlock and open the back sliding glass door (gaining unlimited access to the back yard when ever they want)
*how to work the volume control on the tv (great for getting mommy's attention when I'm otherwise occupied)
*how to open the inside door to the garage (which gives them access to all their "stored" toys...for which they have no interest in trading out)
*how to undo the child lock for the pantry (at least they lock it back up when they're done)
*that the step stool is portable...making a whole other level of things within reach (and that any box or bucket turned upside down can be used as an adequate substitute)

If I can look past the messes, the frustration and relinquishing some control (quite a challenge for a self-professed Type A), then I can appreciate the wonder and amazement of their little minds in discovering the world around them, and the self confidence they build when they learn a new "skill". Even if that means they are giving themselves mud baths...right after I've given them a real one.

Happy Mother's Day to the Moms of the world...you make the world a better place!

Mom: 0, Twins: 1?

But it's only half time. I'm not worried...or at least not yet.

This is one of those times when previous parenting experience has been put to good use. It's hard to believe that the twins are old enough, but we decided to take the leap from cribs to toddler beds since it was evident that the cribs' days were numbered. Being the conscientious parents that we are, we wanted to make the transition before there was an injury. It was still a tough decision, though, not because I don't want to let go of their "babyness", but because my prior knowledge of this milestone tells me that the bed time routine becomes a major challenge, at least in the beginning. And twice as hard (at least) with twins.

After taking them shopping for their new pillows, I had the brilliant plan to introduce the "big kid" beds for their morning nap first.

Come see your new and improved "big kid" room!

Ella had been begging me so sleep in her "big girl" bed for weeks...

...do you think she likes it?

Chase was a little less sure...

...but eventually warmed up to the idea.

I knew there would be a period of novelty that would have to run its course. And I knew it was a bit of a gamble, since things are much more enticing when you can see them in daylight. But I also knew that had we waited until night time, we would run the risk of being up half the night playing the new "back to bed" game. So, how'd it go? Here's the play-by-play.

~5 minutes: until the twins realized they could stand at the window and look outside
~15 minutes: the time it took the monkeys to start jumping on their beds
~25 minutes: the point at which they opened the bedroom door....the first time (of many)
~30 minutes: the party was really getting started
~45 minutes: they played "light on", "light off" Ella just couldn't help herself
~1 hour: when they decided it would be fun to climb INTO the crib we left in the room (just in case)

~1 hour 5 min: when they decided to trade beds


~1 hr 20 min: ahhhh, quiet play and some silence....maybe a nap?
~1 hr 30 min: no such luck- Ella had things to do when she remembered she could go through the drawers to her heart's content
~1 hr 35 min: don't forget going through the closet
~1 hr 40 min: delirium starts to set in...intermittent laughing, crying as they roll around on the floor (and over each other)
~1 hr 50 min: settling down again...THIS time maybe some sleep?
~2 hrs 5 min: wishful thinking...delirium keeps them awake and busy making animal noises, playing and Chase stands watch opening and closing the door while Ella continues to explore the drawers
~2 hrs 40 min: game over (it's all part of my strategy)

Okay, so they never slept. And, yes, they will be cranky and difficult at times because of it, but I'm looking at the bright side...I didn't lose any sleep! At least not yet. And even better? They will be plenty exhausted for an early bed time tonight.

At least that's what I thought. That was until I discovered that Chase finally gave in shortly after I surrendered and fell fast asleep on the floor.

Twins:1, Mom:0? Maybe we should just call this round a tie... Game on!

Got TV?

We do! At least right now.

We had all but made the call to cancel our dish. Not because we had to but because we came to the realization that the tv was really for the kids, given how much of it Brian and I get to watch. The problem is that when they aren't fighting over what to watch, I am telling them to turn it off because so much of it these days is inappropriate. And don't even get me started about the commercials.

I'll admit that I depend on the tv as my pseudo-babysitter to get things done (like laundry, vacuuming, dishes, etc) and at least the preschool-aged shows are educational, right? I can attest to that point personally. Here are some examples:

*"Look, mama, Chuck E. Cheese!" (Ella pointed out as we passed one adjacent to the freeway. And, no, she's never been there. But a great first step for name recognition!)
*"Let's count! Uno...dos...tres..." (Ella can count proficiently in English AND Spanish, thanks to our friend Dora the Explorer.)
*"Pat...pat..pat..pat,pat,pat,pat! Faster!" (Chase, my backseat driver, thinks my car is Rocket from The Little Einsteins.)
*When I tell Ella, "you're so special" she replies, "Oso, special?" (As in Special Agent Oso. Followed by an immediate search for her over sized "special agent" watch.)
*"Mama, Cha wan milh" (and I repeat, "Does Chase want milk?") to which he replies with excitement, "Milk, RIGHT!" (as if I picked the "right" answer.)
*When I ask, "Do you want a hot dog?" the reply is always the same..."hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!" (Mickey and friends sure know how to sing!)
*"Mama...trash truck...go...dump?" (Toy Story 3 has taught Chase about community services and the cycle of trash.)
And my personal favorite...
*"A clue! A clue!" Ella shouted excitedly as she jumped out of her chair.

(No, the new container for dog treats with the paw on the side wasn't really a clue, but Blue would have been proud of Ella!)

So while we are still contemplating canceling the tv, I can honestly say that my conscience has been eased a bit by the twins' positive influence from it. I can't say as much for the "older kid" shows where the teens are sassy and the characters are dark, but as long as everyone is willing to watch Curious George be, well, curious, we just might keep the tv. At least until the twins figure out how to work the remote control.

Ha Ba Da OOO

That's "Happy Birthday to You" in two year speak. It took me seven years and four kids to really realize that as special as birthdays are, parties can be a lot of work and overwhelming to little ones. So we kept things simple this year. A small get together with family and minimal presents. And while the babies (okay, toddlers) still didn't quite "get it", they understood enough to know that this was a cause for celebration that required hats, ice cream and cake, and a song. They still didn't get that it was for them, as Ella wished everyone else a Ha Ba Da and even placed her birthday hat on her milk cup and sang it Ha Ba Da OOOO a day later.

A soccer ball was the perfect gift from her big brother since Ella was already decked out in his shin guards and cleats. How did she know?

Give him a good book (especially with dinosaurs) and he's a happy camper.

One of the big hits was their new picnic bench for their play area. Perfect for eating cake and ice cream.

Here's Chase's reaction to realizing he had eaten all his dessert. What can I say, he's two and he LOVES dessert.

My little food bandit takes his first opportunity to steal his sister's bowl...and eats it ALL!

Then she realizes what he did. Of course she was quickly given a fresh bowl all her own to eat...

and Chase becomes the ice cream police to make sure she finishes every last bite of it.

Having twins can be hilariously entertaining at times. But having TWO YEAR OLD twins is priceless.

Who Says...

Girls don't play with trucks? To Ella it's a heavy duty stroller for her baby...

Girls don't play with cars? To Ella it's a phone she can hold comfortably in her hand and talk to everyone she can think of...for hours

Girls don't play with toy guns? To Ella it's an accessory to go with her hat

Boys don't like to have their hair "done"?

Or that ALL girls do?

Another fascinating study in nature vs. nurture. What's interesting, however, is that more powerful than either of these influences...is the basic desire to have what the OTHER person has.
Can you say "terrible two's"?
Witnessing this stage reminds me that this is preparation for a lifetime of learning that you can't always have what you want...
but with a little creativity and effort, you can make do with what you have.

Yeses and Noses

When I say that Chase is a happy baby, I mean that he's a happy baby. Even smiling in some...unusual circumstances. And he hasn't lost his sense of (potty) humor either.

Case in point. This week the babies and I have been battling a pesky cold. Nothing extreme, just the usual runny nose and juicy sneezes (most of which I end up wearing or they use to style their hair). Needless to say, getting a 15 month old to "blow" their nose is a not a simple task. That's if you can hold the Kleenex to their face without them ripping it out of your hand and making confetti out of it or shaking their head so fast that you end up smearing it across their entire face...a few times. Besides, the minute they see me coming with a handful of tissue they make it an instant game of tag.

Plan B. Using the saline drops and bulb syringe old school style. Ella squirms too much for this. She was, however, open to doing it herself...her way (which was to put the bulb syringe in her mouth which doesn't quite work). Then I noticed her mimicking me blowing my nose and she gave it a whirl...in her hand. Sometimes you just take what you can get. So my compromise with Ella now is that she blows her nose into her hand, then I wipe her hand. Probably just one of the hundreds of reasons NOT to put baby's fingers in your mouth...no matter how cute it is.

Chase isn't quite as squirmy as Ella but he's arguably stronger. He let me drop the saline...a little unsure of what was coming next...and when I got a good suction on the syringe and it made the "thwwwwwrrrp" sound he started laughing hysterically. My silly Chase who loves to laugh actually likes having his nose suctioned! Problem solved! Now...the minute I lay him down for a diaper change he's saying "that" for the saline and bulb syringe and a good belly laugh for both of us. I hope he is able to keep his happy outlook and silly, smiley disposition for ALL of life's unpleasantries!

I See Ghosts

The babies are ready for Halloween. They even picked out their own costume. Can you guess what it is?

Having twins is a form of entertainment in and of itself. And like most babies, they are much more fascinated by the "non-toy" things in their playroom than by the actual toys (despite having a playpen FULL of toys). The towel is one of their favorites, due in part to its versatility I'm sure. It can be a costume, a cape, a game of peek-a-boo, a tent, a blanket, a tug-of-war rope, a pillow, or a fan (with a little help). My personal favorite is the "tent" where we all sit down and huddle underneath it...then laugh hysterically as if no one knows we're there. Occasionally I catch the babies doing this together on their own but they are always too quick for the camera.

Due to the small safety issue of not being able to see, I don't think the babies will actually dress as ghosts this year (although I think they think half the fun is bumping into things). I am looking forward to introducing them to their first trick-or-treating experience, but somehow I think they will be much more excited about walking around freely (sans the stroller) than getting candy...at least until they've tried the candy, then all bets are off.

Bed Head?

Or perfectly styled fauxhawk?

It's "Crazy Hair Day" again at our house. Yes, the crazy kid with the crazy hair is due for his FOURTH haircut (he definitely got the "Wilcox" hair gene)...while little Ella's fine baby hair has barely surpassed Chase's in length (without any haircuts). I guess the bright side is that Ella has less hair for Chase to pull...and Chase will never have to join the Hair Club for Men.

They're Not Just Shoes...

They're decorations for the feet! At least I think that's what Ella would say if she could. Having three boys and a girl (and especially boy/girl twins), I have never been SO convinced that some things are just innate. While Chase has taught himself to burp, Ella is busy trying to adorn herself with anything that resembles jewelry or fancy clothes. If it has a a hole big enough for her to put her hand through, it's a bracelet. If she can "wear" it by draping it over her shoulders or on her head, it's a dress (here she is with her arms through Brian's shirt).

And there is no mistaking the shoes. Since she can't yet put them on herself, she has started carrying them everywhere. Ironically, I haven't put the babies in shoes much since there is not a lot of walking in public happening right now, but she doesn't seem to mind that part...she just wants to wear the shoes. In fact, when she does have freedom to roam the house, she goes straight to her closet and "shops". And she always grabs a matching pair. What can I say, the girl likes fashion!

I guess I'll have to get used to it. Unfortunately little Chase hasn't quite caught on yet that just because she's carrying two of something doesn't necessarily mean one of them is for him. It is often remarked that with three older brothers Ella will have to be tough...but I never would have guessed that I would be telling my son (Chase) the same thing. (A wise friend of mine summed it up perfectly- that having a sister is good husband training for the future- and I must say I agree.)

So with her strong "leadership" skills and flair for all-things fashion there is NO question in my mind that Ella is the way she is because she's a GIRL (and a product of her mother).

LOL*

A typical night at our house...
(make sure you have sound)

...dancing, jumping and *laughing out loud. Do they have to grow up?

We Have Lift Off

Without much hesitation or thought Ella pulled herself up to stand yesterday morning. Her motivation? A hug from daddy who was waiting with arms outstretched. She is definitely turning into a daddy's girl. And once she figured it out, she continued all weekend long to pull herself to stand at every opportunity.

The problem? (Aside from the obvious: getting super close to becoming mobile...) She hasn't figured out how to sit back down. So she stands, holding for dear life and crying until someone comes and gets her. Or maybe she DOES know how to sit and she's smarter than we think she is... Of course it doesn't help that often times Chase is underfoot to check out the commotion so that even if she did want to sit she has no where to plant her sweet little bottom.

I don't think Chase is all that impressed with Ella's new-found skill (he thinks being on his knees is just fine, thank you very much).

But...when no one is looking he is hard at work practicing. Right now he is perfecting the one-foot-one-knee crawl.

I'm convinced that the day he stands (which I expect to be very soon) may very well be the day he walks...he has already spent countless hours jumping in his exersaucer building up strength in his legs. I just hope he wasn't also building up speed...

Peek-a-boo

Who can resist a fun game of peek-a-boo? Obviously not me. And now I know why little girls' dresses always come with matching underwear/diaper covers...

Where's Ella?

There she is! Peek-a-boo! I see you!

It turns out that I'm not the only one who found this amusing. Chase was sitting next to Ella on the floor laughing his sweet, squeaky little heart out.

And so she kept doing it again and again. Peek-a-boo anyone?

Fun With "Chella"

There is no doubt that one of the best parts about having a baby (or babies in my case) is watching their personalities emerge. There has been no shortage of that with Chase and Ella (or, “Chella”). As they approach seven months old they are becoming more fun (and more work) than ever. Here are just a few of the fun moments I captured today alone!

If you’re happy and you know it…twirl your feet!? This is Ella’s version of her “Happy Dance”. While she is normally reserved in her expressions, she has taken to twirling her feet and opening and closing her hands when she’s excited. Usually with a gaping smile and cute a little wiggle.

It’s not just his hair that makes Chase look a little odd these days…it’s also his teeth! While his two bottom teeth are well pronounced, it seems logical that his top teeth would follow…which they did, but NOT the central teeth (but the incisor teeth). Yes, my little man now looks like a little VAMPIRE complete with “fangs”. It suits him well, I guess, since he attempts to bite most things (courtesy of teething). Just watch your fingers.

Despite being twins, Chase and Ella don’t pay a whole lot of attention to each other (unless it’s feeding time and only one is being fed…). Here are the babies in the crib together and what I thought was a very sweet moment between them… but I’m still not sure if Chase being affectionate with his sister and trying to pet her…or if he’s trying to pull Ella’s hair…).

Garrett also got in on the fun and decided to give the babies an impromptu puppet show.

Happy Dancing

Energetic. Expressive. Enthusiastic. Curious. These are all complimentary descriptions of Chase, but perhaps more accurate descriptions would be...CRAZY. HYPER. SPASTIC. LOUD. Is it possible for an infant to have ADHD? I’m a mother of three boys and I expect them to be active, but the child does NOT sit still unless he’s sleeping (and if you’ve read my earlier post you know that’s not for long)! When his legs aren’t constantly kicking and arms flailing (he’s usually doing this while smiling and grunting which is why I call this his “happy dance”), then he’s stretching and reaching for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING within reach (or not) and, of course, immediately “studying” it by putting it his mouth. Did I mention he’s not even seven months old yet? To say he’s determined and motivated is an understatement. Maybe it’s because he has big brothers to keep up with. Or maybe, compared to mellow Ella, anyone would seem unusually active. Either way, Chase has places to go, things to do and people to see, so get out of his way. I’m not sure if I should be impressed by his initiative to comprehend and be part of the world around him or if should be worried that he acts like he has just had a pot of coffee (all day long). No matter how you look at it, there is no question that life with Chase will be anything BUT boring… I do have one question, though…how is he not utterly exhausted? I know I am. And he’s not even crawling yet.

See what I mean?

Cirque De Wilcox

On any given day there are a number of analogies you can draw about our household, depending on the noise level and activities taking place. A “zoo” is a favorite. So is a “construction zone”, a “doctor’s office” and a “day care”. But today, it is a “circus”. For some reason the babies have been doing some interesting acrobatics lately.

Check out the video clip of Chase clowning around trying to…crawl? Run? Swim? I’m not really sure…

Here is Ella, the contortionist, doing this thing she does with her legs. She does this a lot (I’m not sure why) and her feet are always cocked in the most unnatural angle… How could this be comfortable?And then there’s the freakishly long finger-like toes on Ella (who appears to be “holding feet” with her brother). I still haven’t decided if I think this is cute or weird. Either way, who knew our kids were so talented?

Sweet Peas and Carrots

One milestone after another, you would think we were running a marathon! My sweet peas are growing up fast and are officially eating cereal and veggies. Here are pictures of Chase & Ella’s (affectionately known as “Chella”) first experience with carrots. Ella ate like a proper little girl and probably would have dabbed the corners of her mouth if she had a napkin within reach. Patient and pensive as always. Chase is more about the full experience- hands dirty, food everywhere and interested in eating anything that looks remotely interesting (like the colorful bib he was wearing). This is very much aligned with their personalities and they really couldn’t be more different.

That aside, this experience of “eating” for the first time must be quite odd and perplexing for these little ones. Think about it. Out of the blue the grown-ups they’ve come to love and trust begin holding a funny looking stick with mysterious matter in their face, while excitedly cheering with their mouth open wide in hopes that the babies will follow suit. Not only does this stuff NOT resemble food as they know it, but it doesn’t resemble ANYTHING familiar (except maybe the fill-in-the-blank vegetable that their big brother just spit out in protest). But it’s FUN and EXCITING and DON’T YOU WANT A BITE? And if they open their mouth just the slightest bit it is quickly filled with this foreign goop, sending their taste buds into overdrive (at which point they instinctively and immediately spit it out). How ironic that we start our lives having to be taught to enjoy eating only to spend our adulthood trying to retrain ourselves not to enjoy eating SO much.

Eat. Play. Sleep.

Well, play and sleep anyway. Here are some fun video clips of Chase and Ella (note: I had to post them separately).

Ella at play with her brothers (you'll want to have volume for this).

Don't you wish they could stay this age forever?